‘Cujo’ Remake in Development?

An odd piece of news regarding the remake of an old horror classic has just come to light. The fact that it’s a horror remake isn’t odd – after all, horror remakes are a common occurrence in current cinema and can occasionally turn out quite well. The plans surrounding this particular remake, however, become less reliable the closer you examine them.

Sunn Classic Pictures, which produced the Stephen King adaptation Cujo back in 1983, has announced their intention to remake the film this year in order to mark the 30th anniversary of the original film’s release.

Dread Central published the press release earlier today, along with a sales video that consists mainly of footage from the 1983 version of Cujo:

Lang Elliott, President & CEO of Sunn Classic Pictures, Inc., announced that Sunn plans to produce the remake of “CUJO” this year representing the 30th Anniversary since Sunn produced and distributed the original “CUJO” motion picture in 1983, based upon Stephen King’s novel. The 1983 version was highly successful at the worldwide box-office and, compared with today’s inflation and higher ticket prices, the box-office would be well over $225 million even without ancillary sales (i.e., DVD, cable, free television, pay-per-view, etc.).

“CUJO” is the story of a large, playful St. Bernard dog that is transformed into a hideous killing machine after being infected by rabies. Donna Trenton’s car is on the fritz, and she and her son take her ailing automobile to their mechanic. Upon their arrival, the car stalls and refuses to restart. The mechanic fails to appear so Donna searches for him. The transformed, maniacal “CUJO” reveals himself; he is highly agitated and very aggressive. Donna hardly recognizes this filthy, monstrous creature foaming at the mouth. Suddenly “CUJO” charges Donna, who barely makes it back into the car for protection. Trapped with her son and the windows rolled up, the sweltering heat begins to take its toll. “CUJO’s” powerful state of insanity and violence await.

And check out the sales video:

In theory, a Cujo remake might not actually be a bad idea. The Stephen King novel upon which it was based has a very simple but effective premise, and if the remake were done properly, then there’s a lot of potential for a tense and claustrophobic “monster” horror. The original movie is something of a horror classic, too, but of the eighties horror movies that could be remade, this is one that could definitely benefit from an update.

However, if Sunn Classic Pictures really plans to get the movie out before the end of 2013, then ideally production would need to have already begun. The press release was posted on the production company’s official website back in January, and the sales trailer has been online for over a year, but there’s no information yet as to where the funding for the film is coming from or what kind of talent is attached. The press release above, with its mention of the remake’s box office potential (judging by the success of the original), reads predominantly like a sales pitch for potential investors.

Unfortunately for horror fans who would be interested in a Cujo remake, the plans don’t seem to hold up to scrutiny. Sunn Classic Pictures has not produced a film since 1987, and the only other project on the company’s official website is a self-published paperback children’s book called Pinocchio in the Hood. Also, while company director Lang Elliott claims that he’s planning a Cujo remake, he also claims in his bio that he was the original founder of TriStar Pictures. That’s probably quite startling news for Victor Kaufman, the actual founding chairman and CEO of TriStar.

To put it mildly, this is one piece of horror remake news that’s best taken with a pinch (or perhaps a truckload) of salt.